Seniors are prone to joint pain that make it difficult to sit, stand, and transition between the two. It can be hard for them to meet their daily toileting needs, and the risk of serious harm also increases.
Although many mobility products can help with this issue, the user may feel like they are sacrificing independence in exchange for convenience. It’s a trade-off that few seniors are willing to make.
That’s where toilet seat risers come in. These simple tools add extra inches to the toilet seat, with the addition of handlebars on either side. Elderly and disabled people can lower themselves with ease by using the handlebars, while the increased height puts less strain on their knees and requires less force from their leg muscles.
In this guide, we’ll look at how toilet seat risers work, what they are made from, and which products are best suited for your needs.
What to Consider Before Buying
Toilet seat risers are available in many shapes, types, and styles. The following checklist can help you make the right choice when buying one of these products:
- Is it the Right Height? Toilet seat risers increase the height of the toilet seat anywhere from 2 inches to 5 inches. The ideal height is dependent on your preferences and your disability. Generally, the harder it is for you to squat down and stand up, the higher the toilet seat needs to be.
- Can It Hold Your Weight? If you are overweight, you need to pay close attention to weight capacity. This specification is listed on all mobility products and if you exceed it, there is a risk the product will break or buckle.
- Can You Remove It? If you live in a household with multiple people, you may need to repeatedly remove and reattach the toilet seat riser. It should be lightweight and portable, otherwise it will cause problems for you and your loved ones.
- Is it Stable? When you sit down, does the attachment move around or does it remain still? This is key, as poor stability could increase the risk of slips and falls. It also makes you feel unsafe when you use the toilet.
The Best Toilet Seat Risers
Taking all the above considerations into account, we have sourced the best toilet seat risers and listed all of them below. Just because a product is included on this list doesn’t mean it will be perfect for you.
To ensure you get the best one for you, we recommend looking at the features, reviews, and other key points before comparing these with similarly priced products.
Drive Medical Elevated Raised Toilet Seat
A secure raised seat that locks in place and features removable arms for extra support. It is lightweight, portable, and adds an extra 5 inches to the toilet seat. The Drive Medical riser fits most toilet seats and has a capacity of 300 lbs. In addition, it costs around $30, making it an affordable option.
Drive Medical is one of the best mobility manufacturers in the world and you’re always guaranteed a high-quality product from them. The Amazon reviews are mostly positive, with over 3,500 of them at the time of writing and an average score of 4.2 out of 5.
BEMIS Independence
The BEMIS toilet seat riser is the most expensive product on this list, costing around $100. However, we feel that it’s also the best one and if you have the extra money in your budget and want a more permanent solution, it’s ideal.
So, what makes it so unique?
Well, rather than sitting on top of the toilet and potentially causing stability problems, it replaces the seat and elevates it by 3 inches. It is incredibly safe and secure, built to last, and has many good reviews. In addition, the BEMIS has been tested for up to 1,000 lbs. without any issues, making it an ideal choice for obese users.
It is easy to clean and set up and can be used by non-disabled household members without issues or complaints.
VIVE Deluxe Locked Raised Seat
VIVE is another big name in the mobility sector and, just like the Drive Medical riser, this is a well-made product that is guaranteed to last. It comes with handles and provides 3.5 inches of added height.
You don’t need any tools or skills to install the seat and it can be removed with ease. The handles are soft-grip, the product can support up to 300 lbs., and it has easy-clean functionality. The VIVE Deluxe Locked Raised Seat is available in two different sizes that are designed for elongated and standard sized toilets.
HealthSmart Portable Elevated Raised Toilet Seat
A very basic but well-made toilet seat riser that adds a huge 5 inches to your toilet. It does not fix in place and simply uses non-slip pads to help it adhere to the toilet. It’s cheap, costing less than $20 on average, and it can hold up to 250 lbs.
The HealthSmart toilet seat riser has close to 3,000 user reviews on Amazon at the time of writing, and the vast majority of them are positive.
Of the bad reviews that exist, many argue that it is not comfortable and doesn’t feel as secure as it should. We completely understand why this might be the case, as it’s high and doesn’t use fasteners, but it’s mobile, it fits most toilet seats, and it’s cheap, so it’s hard to complain.
In any case, we would advise that old and frail users proceed with caution.